Lee Gaskin

Fulltime: And that's it, the Giants have upset the Gold Coast Suns to record their first victory in the expansion club's history. The Giants were down by 13 points at halftime but charged back in the final quarter to win by 27 points. Stephen Coniglio was outstanding with 31 disposals and Ablett had a game-high 33 in a losing side.

28min: Now it's party time as Giles kicks his third goal of the day, let that Russian anthem blast out for the first time.

23min: The Giants will win their first-ever game, hear that song roar Canberra! Jeremy Cameron goals for a 21-point lead, Manuka Oval erupts.

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21min: The Giants are just about home!!! First Adam Treloar, then Jonathan Giles kick truly in the space of a minute to give GWS a 15-point lead.

20min: Less than five minutes of actual game time left, the Giants clinging to a three-point lead. Bennell missed everything to leave the Suns searching to get back into the game.

18min: Rushed point for the Suns, Giants lucky to force it over the line. Ablett making his presence felt.

15min: Another chance from the Giants but Smith misses with a snap. Crowd of 8603, bit smaller than the Giants' first game in Canberra two weeks ago.

12min: Coniglio misses from one step, the Giants by five points.

12min: Here they go again, Giles set shot 45m out, but misses to the right. Giants lead by four points.

8min: Sensational run by Coniglio, finishes off with a pinpoint pass to Dylan Shiel 40m out in front of goal. He makes no mistake, the crowd rises and the Giants lead by three points. Get those vocal chords ready Canberra!

7min: Behind to the Suns.

3min: Giants kicking into a decent breeze in the last quarter. Folau takes a strong mark but misses to the right 49m out.

Three-quarter time: The Giants fought back strongly to trail by just four points at the final break. The Suns had several chances to decisive lead but easy misses may come back to bite them if they get over-run.

30min: Suns behind, Campbell Brown

28min: Giants behind, Dylan Shiel. Roves the pack but just misses with a great snap from 50m

Suns behind, Campbell Brown. Can't make the most of a great pass from Hunt.

26min: Giants behind, Palmer.

Suns forward Tom Lynch reported for going high on Phil Davis. Both players hit the ground but get up and play on.

22min: Goal to the Giants for Jacob Townsend. Shows great strength in the pack to spin out and snap from 30m out. The Giants back to within five points.

20min: Behind to the Giants, they're not going away as many expected.

13min: Finally the pro-Giants crowd has something to cheer about. Devon Smith strolls into goal to cut the lead to 12 points, his second goal of the day.

10min: Some ugly, ugly footy being played now, both sides blowing easy chances.

8min: Karmichael Hunt take a bow. A great bit of tackling from the rugby league convert leads to Michael Rischitelli kicking the Gold Coast's ninth of the day.

6min: A bit of a blue has broken out in the centre square with a dozen players involved. Sam Day doesn't care, the Suns forward slotting home to extend the Suns' lead.

5min: How'd Izzy miss it? Folau misses from 30m out right in front.

Liam Sumner has been subbed off for the Giants, Andrew Phillips coming on to make his AFL debut

1min: Dom Tyson goals after just 13 seconds to get the Giants back to within seven points.

Here comes the much-touted move - Gary Ablett going forward for the start of the second half.

Halftime: The Gold Coast Suns kick six goals to two in the second quarter to grab a 13-point lead at halftime. Unsurprisingly, Gary Ablett the leading possession getter on the ground with 21 touches, while Stephen Conglio is leading the Giants with 16 disposals.

Folau straight out of the WWE playbook with a tradmark bodyslam. If they can't win, might as well put a hurt on the Suns.

Suns goal: David Swallow. Fantastic mark over the top of the defender. The Giants are really slumping leading into halftime. Latest score: GWS 5.8 (38) Gold Coast Suns 7.9 (51)

Suns goal: Josh Caddy. Caddy kicks his second goal in three minutes to extend the Suns' lead to seven points at the 25-minute mark of the second quarter. Latest score: GWS 5.8 (38) Gold Coast Suns 6.9 (45)

Suns goal: Josh Caddy. And the Suns hit the front, Josh Caddy roving beautifully off the pack to put the visitors in front for the first time today. Massive danger signs for the Giants. Latest score: GWS 5.8 (38) Gold Coast Suns 5.9 (39)

The Giants' running has noticeably dropped off. Kevin Sheedy would love for the halftime siren to blow right now to give his lads a breather.

Suns goal: Kyal Horsley. The Suns are well and truly back in this as the mature aged recruit from Subiaco snaps from close range. Latest score: GWS 5.8 (38) Gold Coast Suns 4.9 (33)

Quarter-time: Great first quarter from the Giants but as we saw the last time they were in Canberra against the Bulldogs, the trick will be if they have the legs to sustain it. Ablett has 13 disposals and is on track to break the half century but has has little impact on the match.

Quarter-time: Latest score: GWS 4.2 (26) Gold Coast Suns 1.3 (9)

Jeremy Cameron shows great strength to win a one on battle but snaps and kicks the behind post on the full.

Folau isn't the only Giant dishing out the punishment, Ward smashing a Suns player over the boundary.

Rhys Palmer gives it a ride from 55m but the ball is punched through for a behind. Latest score: GWS 4.2 (26) Gold Coast Suns 1.3 (9)

And just as quickly two of the Gold Coast's stars see the Suns hit back. Ablett gives to Harley Bennell, who kicks truly from 40m. Latest score: GWS 4.1 (25) Gold Coast Suns 1.3 (9)

The Giants are running away with this in the opening quarter. Callan Ward kicks a beautiful goal on the run from 40m for the Giants' fourth unanswered goal. Latest score: GWS 4.1 (25) Gold Coast Suns 0.3 (3)

Ablett snaps from the left pocket but the magician can't squeeze it through for the Suns' first goal. Latest score: GWS 3.1 (19) Gold Coast Suns 0.3 (3)

Izzy Folau pushed into the ruck for the Giants, throwing his size around as he would've done a few years ago in State of Origin for the Maroons.

And that's three to the Giants! Stephen Coniglio makes the most of a 50m free kick from a late hit from Michael Coad to have the Manuka Oval crowd buzzing. Latest score: GWS 3.1 (19) Gold Coast Suns 0.2 (2)

The Giants applying great pressure up the ground, nowhere for the Suns to go.

Tom Lynch lining up 45m out just to the right of the posts but pushes it across the face. Latest score: GWS 2.1 (13) Gold Coast Suns 0.2 (2)

And there's the second goal of the game to the Giants, Liam Sumner slotting home from 15m out right in front. Great start by the Giants. Latest score: GWS 2.1 (13) Gold Coast Suns 0.1 (1)

The AFL's newest clubs have both shown plenty of promise in the opening six rounds, but neither have been able to crack it for a win. Brownlow Medallist Gary Ablett returns to help deny the GWS Giants their first win in their history. Lee Gaskin will bring you all the action from the second game of the year from Canberra's Manuka Oval.

4 comments so far

Congrats to the Giants on their first win, but a question to the AFL. When scheduling the years home and away fixtures, should they not have considered that this game had the best possible chance for the Giants first win ? So why did they schedule the game at Manuka and not at Blacktown the supposed home of Greater Western Sydney ? A great win for GWS but a bigger loss for the AFL

Commenter

Cliff

Location

Sydneys West

Date and time

May 12, 2012, 4:36PM

Top effort by dommy tyson

Commenter

jimcam

Date and time

May 12, 2012, 4:43PM

Cliff - they are Canberra's team as well mate. Who knew who would win today? By the way, it was great seeing them win today. The Suns didn't like the bitter cold out at Manuka.

Commenter

Giants Man

Location

Canberra

Date and time

May 12, 2012, 7:39PM

Giants Man - Really they are Canberra's Team too !! Ok. Thought that being called Greater Western Sydney qualified their origins, though maybe the AFL have hedged their bets with crystal ball anticipation, predicting the failure of two Sydney based AFL sides and if that's the case relocating the Giants to Canberra some time down the track. Easier to relocate something that has yet to bed down and take root. Which would you prefer, the ACT Giants or the Canberra Giants ? As for my comment re: best possible chance at a win I didn't think that would need much explaining.